The Difference Between Mac's and PC's
Most computer repair shops won't touch a Mac, basically since Mac users are required to obtain service and support from Apple controlled facilities only.

The situation with PC's (Windows based machines) is entirely different. Just as there is a bewildering variety of PC manufacturers and configurations, there are equally as many computer service and PC repair shops to service them.

The question, as always, is where to obtain the best computer repair service at the lowest cost. This is where Milford Computer Service is pleased to assist you.

Introduction
The conflict between Mac OS X and Windows fans has been ongoing for decades now. Which platform to use, which suits your needs best and what team one should join. Fortunately, as time goes by the challenge of choosing between these two has become less competitive over the years due to an increasing number of programs and utilities that work effectively on both of these systems. 

Both developers made sure that they offer business-friendly operating systems and that their efficiency and availability is better almost each day. Of course, there are many differences between these two operating systems, read on to learn more and possibly figure out which team you should join.

Moving forward, we'll be discussing and comparing Apple computers on Mac OS X (no Mackintosh) and systems running Windows. The term PC stands for personal computer, and could of course apply to Macs as well, but it is commonly used to describe a Windows operating system, and so will we in this article. 

Next, we'll talk about the most basic pros and cons between these two systems, and will focus on some with more detail later.

Basic Pros and Cons
This list can go beyond any definition of an article, as the discussion and "flame wars" of these two go well above and beyond the standard differences such as hardware capabilities and design options. 

Mac Pros (Why You Should Consider a Mac):

·  It is become known that Mac systems are slightly more efficient when it comes to running multiple operating systems. Mac users are able to create a Mac + PC environment. Besides running OS X, users are able to install others systems including both the Windows OS and Linux;

·  Apple's integration of cross-platform support allows for easier work with other Apple products;

·  Running OS X on a Mac is called simple, the operating system is straight-forward, and therefore requires less maintenance even though a lot of people would argue that simple doesn't equal better;

·  Concerning infections, viruses and malware, Mac users will encounter less trouble with these as malicious activities are more spread on Windows systems;

·  Macs do not carry any third party apps and other software with their systems, however, PC manufacturers often preinstall 3rd party apps that many users do not want and are forced either to deal with them or delete them;

·  It's been complimented time over time, that Apple has excellent customer support, along with their Apple Care warranty projects and exclusive, simple to find Apple Stores where users can get their systems repaired;

·  The design of a Mac is something a lot of people appreciate with Apple's line of computers. It is thought that they manufacture the most beautiful, best-looking computers on the market;

·  It's simple to buy a Mac, you're told what you get in a straight-forward manner, and while you can get the same or better quality with a PC, it would certainly take you more time into choosing between all the different components from all the different manufacturers and configurations;

·  While it's true that Macs are way more expensive than PCs, it's also true that their resale value holds much better than PCs.

PC Pros (Why You Should Consider a PC):

·  With Apple computers, you can only get... Apple. While with the PCs, you are able to choose between many manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, AMD, Intel, HP and others, which are all generally cheaper to go for than as opposed to Apple's products;

·  PC systems are more upgradable, which mostly stands for Desktop systems, and this is mostly due to the fact that these use more "standard" components, and with Apple, you're only able to upgrade the RAM and the hard drive;

·  With a PC, you're able to build a custom configuration to suit your needs exactly, for example, choosing the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, the case of the system, and everything in between, while with Macs, you can only choose from already set configurations;

·  Generally speaking, Windows systems offer more software, as almost any developer will make sure their products support use on Windows, where Mac's software capabilities are more limited;

·  Windows systems are also generally a much, much better choice for gamers, being able to choose the exact components on which your favorite games will run certainly is a great advantage to these people, especially those going into gaming professionally;

·  Apple made the Macs to be simple, sacrificing power, thus, Windows systems tend to be more powerful, but more complex at the same time.

The Design
The mere concept of design often seems like a superficial aspect of a computer system, and unimportant one as well. The design however, is actually a big differentiator when it comes to choosing between a Mac and a PC. 

Most people would say that a big chunk of Apple's glory it enjoys today is due to the specific designs their products offer. It is known that the former Apple CEO Steve Jobs focused heavily on the outward design of all Apple's products and this unconventional focus on appearance of the products, has certainly resulted in something big today. 

This trait of loyalty to the design of their products, has started with the very first Mac system, introduced in 1984. Like many Apple systems today, its processing unit and monitor were placed in a single unit, as to reduce the number of cables running in and out of the system and therefore producing a more sleek design. 

Nowadays, we have seen many PC manufacturers who attempted to create more design-focused PC models, and they've been trying ever since Apple's designer Jonathan I've produced the iMac in 1998, with its translucent, colored shell.

Of course, it needs to be said and remembered that PCs are not a result of a single manufacturer. There are literally hundreds of different PC designs available on the market today, ranging from business-designed PCs to the futuristic-looking, beautiful designs of Alienware's gaming PCs. 

To many people, this is where the PC wins because you're able to look at different manufacturers for different, customizable designs as opposed to having only one single option, when it comes to having and using a Mac.

Specifications 
Again, as it is with the design, a Mac sits on your desk on an "as is" basis. You get what you bought and that's it, until you decide to upgrade to a better system. A PC on the other hand, offers total customization, and a lot of people are taking the advantage of this aspect and are building their own PCs today with different components from different manufacturers. 

PC users are basically free to add or remove almost any part they want. While it is true that both Mac and Windows systems have very similar parts such as hard drives, graphics cards and RAM memory, their speed and capacity however, varies. 

The difference here spreads to connection and optical drives solutions as well. While Macs offer a basic, standard selection of features such as a Superdrive, USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, audio in and out and Ethernet, PCs offer comparable utilities but with extra options such as Blu-Ray players, touch screens, HDMI ports and TV tuners. 

The main difference here is obviously the Macs having limited customization capabilities, while PC users are allowed for a much wider range of options while supporting different selections when it comes to hardware.

Operating System
The most popular operating system on the PCs today is Windows, with its most recent version being Windows 8.1, which replaced Windows 7, which itself preceded Vista, XP and other earlier versions of the Windows operating systems. 

The Mac's mostly used operating systems and the OS X (or OS 10) with the latest version being 10.8 (named "Mountain-Lion") which is an upgrade to the earlier 10.7 version named "Lion".

Today, most PCs come with a pre-installed Windows 8.1 operating system, while Macs on the other hand, run Apple's OS X with upgrade options such as the OS X - Yosemite. OS X is basically thought to be more user-friendly while PC users generally enjoy a more comfortable setting along with more available programs and utilities. 

These two operating systems are of course, completely different from one another. As with the design and basic specifications, Windows users are again, offered with more customization options, and the Macs come off more in a pre-set environment. The broad opinion is that the Macs have a cleaner, less busy appearance to it, than the Windows-based systems.

Pricing
Ah, the price. This aspect which can greatly differentiate these two systems is certainly something one needs to consider, when choosing between a PC and a Mac. It is known that only a few Macs sell under $1,000, while with PCs however, users can purchase dozens of different models that fall within this price range. 

This of course, does not necessarily mean that Macs are far more expensive, with same or similar specifications. Apple seems to be building its line of products around higher-end components, which are at the some time more costly.

The difficulty when it comes to comparing prices between PCs and Macs is that they are rarely comparable. The thing is, these two can and probably will come with vastly different software packages pre-installed, so even with identical hardware solutions such as the graphic cards, memory and capacity capabilities, and so on, the two could still greatly differ. 

When choosing, it is important one thinks about their needs. Expenses can also surpass the initial purchase of a system, as a user may need to purchase additional features for both systems such as Microsoft Office for a Mac or antivirus software for PCs. 

To Summarize
In short, it all comes down to the user's needs. A less known OS called Linux, can actually turn out to be the best solution for someone who's only aware of the two most popular systems. A basic Linux-powered system can provide everything you need for basic Internet browsing and other basic computer functions, and is certainly the least expensive option. 

Figuring out your "end-needs" is actually something what needs to be considered the most.